I've written very negatively about spec work in the past, and because of this I get approached at conferences to discuss this issue.
I've now met 5 people doing work for 99designs and other spec work sites with an intent of coming back later in a legal form. It is all about intent, and you are asking a designer to do custom work for you with the intent not to pay.
I've said it is inherently evil, and somethings like this are going to happen.
I like the saying "there is no such thing as a great designer, only a great client." You drive the design, and if you resort to sites like these, you open yourself up to a slew of legal issues, and wave the flag that you are not willing to work on one of the most important public parts of you company.
I guess it depends on which stage of your website development you are in. When I'm bootstrapping it and I'm not even sure whether the idea will be a success, I'm not willing to invest in anything more than good enough. When I have some empirical evidence that the idea will fly (e.g. a/b tests, first sale closed), only then will I get in touch with a great designer to do custom work. As a plus, I will probably have discovered what I really want from the designer by that time and will be able to drive the design in a better way.
I've now met 5 people doing work for 99designs and other spec work sites with an intent of coming back later in a legal form. It is all about intent, and you are asking a designer to do custom work for you with the intent not to pay.
I've said it is inherently evil, and somethings like this are going to happen.
I like the saying "there is no such thing as a great designer, only a great client." You drive the design, and if you resort to sites like these, you open yourself up to a slew of legal issues, and wave the flag that you are not willing to work on one of the most important public parts of you company.